Venetian blind



y 3, 1938. R. LABORDA ET AL 2,116,357

VENETIAN BLIND Filed July 25, 1957 2 Sheets-$heet 1 INVENTORS ia ATTORNEY,

Patented Mag 7. 3, 1$i38 l l H 1 umreo STA-ms PATENT orrics I Richard Brooklyn,

Application lnly 23, 1931, Serial No. 155,160 11 Claims (0]. 150-11) The invention,- relates to Venetian blinds, and hereinafter, by means of a spring acting upon said more particuiarlvto the mechanisms for 'supportmovable locking member, or by forming said ingand'actuating the-louvers, 7 movable locking member of spring metal. the two Theinvention is particularly. applicable to the structures being one 'merely a reversal of the 5 type of Venetian blinds shown in our co-pending other. i -5 7 application Serial No. 149,053, filed'June 19th, Our invention is also particularly adapted for 1937, wherein ih 'raising and lowering the blind, use with louvers of the type generally referred to r the louvers are moved in groups and brought into in our aforesaid application, but differing thereparallel relation adjacent the top of'the blind, from in the provision of a particularv form of at- 10 and wherein different groups of louvers, when the tachment' between each louver and the opposite l0 blind is lowered, may bedifferentially actuated to tapes of each pair of tapes supporting the louver, secure varying lighting andventilating effects. a construction affording a more rigid support I In the type of blind for which the invention is for the louver at the point of attachment to the particularly adapted for use, the blind structure tapes and a more reliable and less expensive means is mounted in relation to a window openingby of attachment of the louvers to the tapes. 15

tion,'the louvers are raised and loweredby cords pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

means of brackets such as are'commonly used for The invention consists primarily in a Venetian roller shades, so that the blind may be quickly blind embodying therein .the novel features of placed in position or removed. ponstruction and combination of parts hereinafter In the'biind disclosed in our aforesaid applicaset forth and described, and more particularly engaging one of the tapes of each pair of ladder Referring to the drawings, 20

tapes, these cords being positioned atone end of Fig, 1 .is a vertically and laterally condensed the louvers. ,I'he louvers are turned by means of view, from the room side of a window, of a blind cords positioned at the other end of the louvers. embodying the invention; 5 Friction is relied upon to hold the louvers in any Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, from the rig t of adjusted position to which they maybe turn Fig. 1, upon a larger scale;

to secure the desired lighting and ventilating Fig. 3 is a laterally condensed plan view 0 effect. the portion of the blind shown in Fig. 2 with the By means of the structure of our present inven-* louvers locked in position; g

tion, the'separate means for raising .and'lower- I Fig. 4 is a view of the locking mechanism in the ing a blind and for turning the louvers are posireleased position, preparatory to tilting of the tioned at the same side of the window frame, and louvers; positive locking means, controlled by'a rigid mem- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the actuating ber, are provided so as to avoid possibility of acmechanisms for the louvers;

- cidental shifting of the louvers when they have Fig. 6 is abot'tom plan view of the louver head 40 housing for the cords used in 'raising'and lower-' 'to;

.. once received the desired setting." The locking bar at the left of the blind;

means are so constructed as to permit the set Fig, 7 is a plan view'of-a fragmentary portion ting of the louvers at any desired angle} of one of the louvers, showing at one side thereof ably, said rigid member is utilized as a guidethe manner of attaching the ladder tapes therev m ing theblind. c t; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fi "I;

The mechanism used for tiltin ""the louvers is; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 upon an enso constructed that it may be compactly nested large'd scale showing-a construction of controlling with the other parts of the blind structure to mechanism for th'eblind in which the hired lock facilitate transportation and storage of" blinds in ing member is independent of the window 45 compact space. bracket;

In the preferred form of the invention, part Fig. i0 isa plan view of Fig. 9.; v of the locking mechanism serves as a bearing Fig.,11 is a detail view, partly broken away, of bracket for a trunnion at one end-of the louver the actuating mechanism for the blind; and supporting rod, although this locking member may Fig. 12 is a detail view of the head bar trunnion 5 be made as a separate piece and used in conjuncomechanism at the and opposite to that carrying tion with an'ordinary roller'shade bracket. the locking mechanism. A The movable locking member isspring pressed Like numerals refer to like parts throughout into engagement with its co-operating fixed lockthe several views.

ing member, either, as will morefully appear In the accomp nying drawingaawindew frame 55 .of paper I6 and I1 which may be suitably colored or decorated and have their edges and ends ce mented together.

These louvers, generally designated by thenumeral I8, are supported between the tapes I9 and 20, two pairs of such tapes preferably being used.v

The louvers are raised and lowered by means of cords 2I and 22 attached to the louvers, as described in our aforesaid pending application, and by means of these cords and of a mechanism for simultaneously raising the corresponding tapes of one pair and lowering the other tapes of said pair, the louvers may be tilted and, in conjunction with the cords 2I and 22, set so as to secure variable lighting and ventilating effects.

The present invention is restricted more particularlyto the mechanisms for imparting tilting movement to the louvers, and incidentally to the control of the'cords 2I and 22 and the manner of attaching the louvers I8 to the tapes I9 and 20.

Mounted on the window frame at the opposite side of the opening of the bracket I I is a bracket 23 having a bearing opening 24 about and concentric with which is a sequence of socket openings 25.

Extending from the bracket II to the bracket 23 is a head bar 26, preferably formed of wood, the opposite ends of this bar being provided with trunnions 21 and 28 adapted to engage said brackets I I and 23.

Carried bythe ends of the bar 26 are metal plates 28 and 30. The trunnion 21 is firmly connected with the bar and turns therewith. While the trunnion 28 is loosely mounted'upon the bar,

it is provided with a screw threaded section 3I co-operating. with screw threads in the end plate 39 so as to permit turning movement of the bar about said trunnion 28. This trunnion has a squared end 32 fitting in the angular opening in the bracket I I. 4

While this construction may resultin longitudinal movement of the bar when tilting the louvers, the amount of this movement may be limited to a few thousandths of an inch, so that it does not in any way interfere with the free operation of the blind. 1

While, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the trunnion pins are mounted in grooves in the bottom of the bar 26, the manner of mounting these pins is immaterial to the invention.

One edge of the bar 26 is provided with suitable uides such as eye-screws 33 in which the cords 2| and 22 run when raising or lowering the blind .or any part thereof.

The opening 24 in the bracket 23 is in the form of a keyhole slot, and a screw'or other device 34, passing through a screw threaded opening in the flange 35 of said bracket is used to prevent accidental lifting of the trunnion 2'1.

Carried by and rotatable with the trunnion 21 is a laterally movable lock strip 36, one end of which carries a stud 31 adapted to enter any of the openings 25 in the bracket 23. Acting upon the strip 36 adjacent the stud 31 is a spring 38 having a normal tendency'to so rock said strip is shown conventionally at I0, at one side of which, I

as to cause said stud to enter any opening 25 opposite which it may be positioned. Clearance is-provided between the strip 36 and the trunnion 21 and the means connecting said strip to said trunnion, so that said strip may have free, but limited turning'movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the trunnion.

Carried by the end plate 29 and connected therewith by means of a screw thread is a guide pin 39 passing through an elongated opening in the strip 36, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. v

Suspended from the guide pin 39 is a plate 49 positioned between a vertical flange of the end plate 29 and the strip 36. By the turning of the plate 40 about a vertical axis, the strip 36 may be so rocked as to disengage the stud 31 from an opening 25 in the bracket 23 and thus permit the head bar 26 to be rocked about a horizontal axis by a downward pull or upward push upon said plate 40.

The plate 40 is provided with lugs 4I between which is pivotally mounted an elongated operating handle 42, preferably in the form of a tube, through which the lift cords 2| and 22 may be passed. To guide these cords, the guide pin 39 has pivotally mounted thereon a pulley housing 43 having a roller 44 mounted therein and positioned above the open upper end of the tube 42. The lift cords 2I and 22 pass over this roller in their run from the guides 33 to said tube.

By pivotally connecting the tube 42 to the plate 40 in the manner described, this tube may be folded to a position substantially parallel with the head bar 26, and be nested with the louvers so as to permit the packaging of the blind in compact space.

The tension of the spring 38 is restrained by a staple or other confining means 45 carried by the trunnion 21 and inclosing the upper portion of the strip 36. This staple connects the strip with the trunnion 21 so as to permit turning of the head bar 26 by vertical movement of the strip by the operating handle. 1

As shown more particularly in Figs. '1 and 8 of the drawings, the several louvers are attached to the tapes I9 and 28 by means of a wire fitting consisting of a wire cross bar 46 of a length less than the width of the louvers, the edges of the paper strips I6 and I1 of said louvers being notched, as shown at 41, for the reception of an angular portion 48 adjacent each end of the bar 46. This angular portion is provided with an open looped head 49 projecting over or under the louver. Each of the tapes I9 and 29 has attached thereto small fabric loops, one of which is shown at 50 in Figs. '1 and 8 of the drawings, adapted to pass over and enter the head 49. Said loops are positioned along the longitudinal center line of the tapes.

By this construction it is not only possible to quickly and accurately apply the tapes to the louvers, but the stresses, when moving the louvers through the tapes, are applied to a metallic reinforcing member, overcoming any tendency to' tear the edges of the louvers.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the construction is identical with that heretofore described, with the exception that an ordinary roller. shade bracket 5I is used to support the end of the head bar, and a stop plate 52' having openings 53 concentric with the axis of the trunnion 21 is used, this plate being attached to the window frame by means of a lug 54. The locking strip, in this fir amass? manner shown in the drawings. This plate 55 is provided with a lock stud 56, remote from the point of pivotal support of the strip, the end of this strip being seouredbetween the plate 40 and the end'plate 29.

A headed stud 51 pivotally supports the plate 40., and acts as a stop, so that with the turning of the plate 40, the spring'strip 55 will be flexed in a manner to disengage thestud 55 from an opening 53 in the plate 52. This headed stud 51 serves the same function as the'guide pin 39 and also serves as a point of pivotal attachment of the housing 43, by means of a pivot screw 43a, carrying the roller it, so as to permit turning of this housing with actuation of the plate and the tube 42. a In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the end of the head bar 26, opposite to that adjacent the lock plate 52, is provided with a trunnion pin 58 having a screw threaded portion 59 and a squared end Gil co-operating with the open slot in the bracket fitting ii. Instead of using an end plate having the threads with which the screw threaded portion 59 co-operates, as in the form' of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the said trunnion pin is rotatably mounted in a socket 6| in the head bar 26, and the end of said bar is provided with an angular recess for the reception of a nut 62, which preferably has a drive fit in said opening.

To hold the blind in the partially open position, we provide the operating handle 42 with a side cleat 53 adjacent the lower end thereof. Since the cords 2i and 22 pass through and beyond the lower end of said tube t2, they maybe readily engaged with the cleat t3.

The operation of the herein described Venetian blind, so far as the operating mechanisms therefor herein described are concerned, is substantially as follows:--

The manner of adjusting difierent groups of louvers to secure varying lighting and ventilating effects is the same as in our co-pending application, the turning of the louvers by the pairs of tapes it and 20 and the raising and lowering Y of the louvers by the pull cords-2| and 22' attached to said tapes in securing these effects, being the same as in our co-pending application.

. With the constructionherein described, a positive setting of the louvers may be had by the actuation of mechanisms associated with each other adjacent the same jamb of a window frame.

if it be desired to merely raise or lower the blind, it is-merely necessary to use the lift cords 2| and 22 in the usual manner and secure said cords by means of the cleat 63. It will be noted that the guides 33 for these cords are carried by the head bar 25. p

when it is desired, however, to turn the louvers or a particular group of louvers, this-is done by means of the operating handle 42. Normally, the

about a vertical axis, imparting a rocking movement to the strip 36 or- 55 to an extent to disengage the locking stud 31 or 55 from the opening 25 or 53 with which it may be engaged at the moment, and exert a downward pull or upward pressure upon said handle 42. I

Since the strips and 55 are so connected with the head bar'26 as toimpart turning move? ment thereto in either direction, either by being connected with the trunnion 21 as to the former,

ordirectly to the bar'26 as to the latter, said strip is capable'of movement with the bar about the axis of movement of said bar, and also has a substantiallystraight line movement toward and from the bracket 23 or plate 52, irrespective oi. the position of said head bar.

When the various louvers have been tilted to the desired extent in either direction, it is merely necessary to release the torque upon. the operating handle 42, whereupon the spring 38, or othe resiliency inherent to the spring plate 55, will engage the stud 31 or 56 with an opening 25 or 53, although it may be necessary to impart slight rotary movement to said strip toproperly position the stud in relation to an opening. When raising and lowering the blinds, they may be positively held in the desired position by merely forming bights in the lift cords 2] and 22 about the cleat 53.

, By using a rectangular tube 52, greater ease in turning this tube about a vertical axis is secured. While, as stated, the screw threaded portion 3i or 59 upon the trunnion pin having the squared end permits iree turning of the head bar, this movement will impart a minute longitudinal component of movement thereto, but this is immaterial since this movement will be very slight.

The purpose of hinging the operating handle M to the plate M for actuating the lock strip has 1 been heretofore referred to.

By pivotally mounting the pulley housing t3 upon the end plate 29, the said pulley structure is permitted to turn with tilting of the head bar it, and thus always maintains the same c'ondicealed at all times by the tapes, irrespective of V the position of the louvers.

I It is not our intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1: A Venetian bLnd embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar, a pair of tapes connected'therewlth, aplurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and said louvers respectively, and lift cords for ra sing or lowering said louvers, of locking members, one of which is fixedly mounted adjacent one end of said bar, and the other of wh chis rotatable with said bar and movable to ward and from the other member, err-operating iaterlocking means. upon .said members, those upon one member being concentric with tin axis of said bar, a pendant operating handle movable about a vertical axis, and means actuated thereby and engageable with said movable member," whereby said interlocking means may be disengaged tov permit turning a movement of said bar or are permitted to engage Gil each other to lock said bar in any adjusted position.

, 2. A Venetian blind embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar, a pair of tapes connected therewith, a plurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and said louvers respectively, and lift cords for raising or lowering said louvers, of a strip adjacent one end of, and secured to and rotatable with said head bar, and movable longitudinally thereof, a stud carried by said strip, a fixed member having a plurality of openings concentric with said bar and adapted to be engaged by said stud, a pendant operating handle movable about a vertical axis, and means actuated by said handle and engageable with said strip, whereby said strip may be moved to disengage said stud from said fixed member to permit turning movement of said bar, or may have movement toward said fixed member to engage said studwith one of said openings to lock said bar in any adjusted position.

3. A Venetian blind embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar, a pair of tapes connected therewith, a plurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and said louvers respectively, and lift cords for raising or lowering said louvers, of a strip adjacent one end of, and secured to and rotatable with said head bar, and movable longitudinally thereof, a stud carried by said strip, a fixed member having a plurality of openings concentric with said bar and adapted to be engaged by said stud, a spring acting upon said strip to normally engage said stud with one of said openings, a pendant operating handle movable abouta vertical axis, and means actuated by said handle and engageable with said strip, whereby said strip may be moved to disengage said stud from said fixed member to permit turning movement of said bar, or may have movement toward said fixed member to engage said stud with one of said openings to lock said bar in any adjusted position.

4. A Venetian blind embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar, a pair of tapes connected therewith, a plurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and said louvers respectively, and lift cords for raising or lowering said louvers, of a trunnion upon which one end of said bar has movement, a trunnion secured to the opposite end of said bar, an end plate upon said bar, a bracket having a bear ing therein for the trunnion carried by saidbar, said bracket having a sequence of openings concentric with said bearing, a lock strip, means securing said strip to said trunnion, movable with said bar while permitting movement thereof toward or from said bracket, a stud carried by said strip adapted to enter any of said openings in said bracket, a spring acting said strip to' normally engage said stud with an opening in said bracket, a guide pin carried by said end plate, a plate pendant from said guide pin and engageable with said end plate andisaid strip, said plate being capable of movement about a vertical axisfand an operating handle secured to and pendant from saidplate, whereby said strip may be moved to disengage said stud from said bracket to permit turning movement of said bar, or may have movement toward said bracket Q of louvers, connections between said tapes and said louvers respectively, and lift cords for raising or lowering said louvers, of a trunnion upon which one end of said bar has movement, an end plate having a screw threaded opening therein, said trunnion having a screw threaded portion engaging the screw'threads in the opening in said plate and an angular end, a trunnion secured to the opposite end of said bar, an end plate upon said bar, a bracket having a bearing therein for the trunnion carried by said bar, said bracket having a sequence of openings concentric with said bearing, a lock strip, means securing said strip to said trunnion, movable with said bar while permitting movement thereof toward-or from said bracket, a stud carried by said strip adapted to enter any of' said openings in said bracket, a spring acting upon said strip to normally engage said stud with an opening in said bracket, a guide pin carried by said end plate, a plate pendant from said guide pin and engageable with said end plate and said strip, said plate mit turningmovement of said bar, or may have movement toward said bracket to engage said stud with one of said openings to lock said bar in any adjusted position.

6. A Venetian blind embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar, a pair of tapes connected therewith, a plurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and said louvers respectively, and lift cords for raising or lowering said louvers, of a strip adjacent one end of, and secured to and rotatable with said head ar, and movable longitudinally thereof, a stud carried by said strip, a fixed member having a plurality of openings concentric with said bar and adapted to be engaged by said stud, a pendant operating handle movable about a vertical axis, means actuated by said handle and engageable with said strip,.whereby said strip may be moved to disengage said stud from said fixed member to permit turning movement of said bar, or may have movement toward said fixed member to engage said stud with one of said openings to lock said bar in any adjusted position, a pulley pivotally mounted upon said head bar about which said lift cords pass, and means carried by said operating handle to which said cords may be secured.

7, A Venetian blind embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar,

a pair of tapes connected therewith, a plurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and said bar, and movable longitudinally thereof, a studcarried by said strip,-a fixed memberhavin a plurality of openings concentric with said %ar and adapted to be engaged by said stifd, a tubular pendant operating handle movable about a vertical axis, means actuated by said handle and engageable with said strip, whereby said strip may be moved to disengage said stud from said fixed member to permit turning movement of said bar, or may have movement toward said'fixed member to engage said stud with one of said openings to lock said bar "in any adjusted position, a pulley pivotally mounted upon said head bar about which said lift cords pass, and means carried bysaid operating handle to which said I amass? cords may be secured after passing through said tubular operating handle.

8. A Venetian blind; embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar,

a pair of tapes connected therewith, a plurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and said louvers respectively, and lift cords for raiscentric with said bearing, a lock strip, means securing said strip to said trunnion, movable with said bar while permitting movement thereof toward or from said bracket, a stud carried by said strip adapted to enter any of said openings in said bracket, a spring acting upon said strip to normally engage said stud with, an opening in said bracket, a guide pin carried by said end plate, a

' plate pendant from said guide pin and engageable with said end plate and said strip, said plate being capable of movement about a vertical axis, and an operating handle pivotally connected with and pendant from said plate, whereby said strip may be moved to disengage said stud from said bracket to permit turning movement of said bar, or may have movement toward said bracket to engage said stud with one of said openings to lock said bar in any adjusted position.

9. A Venetian blind embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar, a pair of tapes connected therewith, a plurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and said louvers respectively, and lift cords for raising or lowering said louvers, of a plate adapted to be fixedly secured adjacent a bracket and having an opening therethrough, and-a plurality of openings concentric with said first named opening, a spring strip secured to said head bar, a

stud carried thereby adapted to co-operate with,

any of said concentric openings, a headed stud carried by said head bar, a plate pendant from said headed stud and ,engageable between same and said spring strip, said plate having a 1005::

bearing with said stud, whereby said plate may have limited movement about a vertical axis, and a pendant operating handle connected with said plate, whereby said spring strip may be flexed to disengage said stud from an opening, or may be released to permit said stud to engage an opening.

10. A Venetian blind embodying therein the combination with a pivotally supported head bar, a pair of tapes connected therewith, a plurality of louvers, connections between said tapes and .said louvers respectively, and lift cords for raising or lowering said louvers, of a plate adapted to be fixedly secured adjacent a bracket and havan opening therethrough, and a plurality of openings concentric with said first named opening,

a spring strip secured to said head bar, a stud carried thereby adapted to co-operate with any of said concentric openings, a headed stud carried by said head bar,- a plate pendant from said headed studand engageable between same and said spring strip, said plate having a loose bearing with said stud, whereby said plate may have limited movement about a vertical axis, a pendant operating handle connected with said plate,

whereby said spring strip may be flexed to disengage said stud from an opening, or may be released to permit said stud to engage an opening, a trunnion pin having a squared end and an adjacent screw threaded portion loosely mounted in the end of said head bar opposite that adjacent said plate having the openings therethrough, and a nut carried by said bar cooperating with the screw threaded portion of said trunnion pin.

11.'In a Venetian blind a louver having opposite notches in the edges thereof, a wire fitting having a cross bar of a length less than the width of the louvers, an angular portion at each end thereof adapted to pass through said notches, and an open looped head adjacent each angular portion, and tapes having fabric loops secured along substantially the center line thereof 'adapted to enter and be retained by said looped heads respectively.

RICHARD LABORDA. JAMES CARRERAB- 

